Persistance Drives Effective New Year’s Resolutions

     In good cheer, ” Happy New Year” salutations are exchanged among friends, acquaintances, even

 strangers.  With eager anticipation of a new season’s advent, many actively pursue new (or sometimes

renewed), vows and pledges: vague in substance, short in vision, and shallow in implementation.

Some people may find a cathartic outlet by simply outlining resolutions they never fully intend to keep,

while others maintain a decided focus on goals that may prove unattainable or unrealistic at best, and

thereby reap disappointing results that can negatively affect their own sense of accomplishment.

    Assuming the serious intent of self-discipline toward completion of… or achievement in….any

resolution(s), how then, might such vows be realized?

  1.  The first order is to record or document in a personal handwriting, a rough draft of any and all

       proposed  resolutions. (It’s vital to make a rough draft of anything, which is a basic blueprint

       from which such ideas are then refined.  The physical act of handwriting goals cements body

      with mental desire and an image, thus creating a stronger impetus for actualizing the stated

      resolution.)  

2.   After all random thoughts have been written, take a personal inventory to see whether any one

      of those goals remains unattainable. Anything remotely unattainable sets up conditions for

      both frustration and failure, and discourages pursuit of any other goal that may be realized.

3.   For any and all achievable resolutions, ask: What is the order of priority, or what matters most in

      sequence of importance? What, if any, external resources ( such as finances or extra education),

      may be required to possess those desired, positive results? What is the schedule or time frame

      expected to achieve the anticipated results, and what baby steps are necessary towards

      that big leap?

4.   Flesh out the most pressing resolutions with detailed specifics of: HOW to achieve them,

      WHEN to achieve them, and if applicable, WHERE to achieve them.

5.   Remember that it takes twenty-one days or three weeks to either successfully create or break

      any habit, so by stating the particulars of goal-reaching or resolution-keeping in very minute

      and manageable pieces, the “larger chunks” tend to fall more readily into place when the timing

       is suitable.

6.   To stay true to course, it’s advisable to review and refine the processes for achieving each vow

      in both morning and evening; in the morning, so work towards implementation is done daily,

      and at night, to allow subconscious, creative juices and inspirations to flow, thinking about

      execution of future activities while the body is resting.

7.   Keep a handy checklist for daily duties toward completion, and mark each minute task done.

      This small but effective notation will bring a sense of immediate satisfaction and encourage

      further action towards fulfilling those resolutions.

8.   Life interrupts plans, and obstacles cause delays. Understanding this, permit extra time or

      revised strategies for keeping all vows and self-promises.

9.   Never deviate far from the basic blueprint, beyond what has been described above, and keep

      those specific resolutions easily accessible at all times, in all places.

      Promises kept to self by self are just as important to character-building and self-trust as are those

       responsibilities to others, as they affect feelings of worthiness and esteem.

10.  Finally, read those refined resolutions aloud…to self and to at least one other, valued person.

      This simple action alone solidifies accountability in final achievement of all New Year’s resolutions.

      To old acquaintances and new…Happy New Year!